Computer scale



Nov. 20, 1945. H. B. KITTLESON 2,389,369

COMPUTOR SCALE Filed March 12, 1945 naz F/G3/8/IIIII IIIVIII] llllll E2\24 24 GN 34 BYWM TTORNE Y HowARn B. KITTLESONNVENTOR' Patented Nov. 20,1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPUTER SCALE Howard B. Kittleson,Salt Lake City, Utah Application March 12, 1943, Serial No. 478,914

2 Claims.

My invention relates toimprovements in computer scales and, moreparticularly, to scaled instruments useful to mechanics such as those inthe building trades who frequently must determine dimensions in relationto the legs of a right triangle in the fabrication and assembly ofstructural elements.

In cutting and assembling a piping system from lengths and sizes of pipeand fittings, it is often necessary to solvel problems of a geometricnature. Such a problem arises particularly in the forming cf offsets,corners, bends and the like in a piping system in which it is highlydesirable to avoid sharp turns in the elimination of internal frictionto the passage of liquids or gases. I have in mind the problem thatoccurs where a plumber or steamtter must change the direction of a pipecourse and desires to include an angularly disposed coupler sectionbetween two main sections that lie substantially at right angles to eachother. The factors involved in such a problem include the taking intoconsideration of the distance that pipe parts reside from adjacent iixedwalls, posts or other structural members; the distance back from theotherwise actual junction of the two main pipes that the coupler memberis to be introduced into the system; allowances that must be made forthe couplings ordinarily employed; and other factors of asimilar nature.

More specifically, the problem arises in the running of a pipe line withan obliquely disposed change-direction section rather than a sharpcorner comprises the calculation of the length of the hypotenuse of atriangle formed in con-A nection with the projection of the axes of twoangularly disposed main pipe sections which are to be cut short of theprojected point of inter! .section of the two axes.

In certain cases both distances from the end of each pipe to theprobable point of intersection may be known and in certain cases onlyone such dimension may be available. In the latter case the obliqueangle must be known while in the former case the solution of the problemfurnishes the angle automatically if that need be known.

It is, therefore, an important object of my invention to provide a scaleto which may be applied certain known factors vof measure from whichrelative factors may be read .or .taken in the rapid solution ofproblems of a geometric nature.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a scale of thekind mentioned, of offset factors giving the length or angularity of thehypotenuse of a triangle when the length of one leg only is known.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a computing scale,interchangeable factors to accommodate the scale to various types ofproblems that are to be solved.

Still another and further object of the invention is to provide a rulerhaving a scale of standard measurements and a scale of offset relativemeasurements which are so associated together that the application of aknown factor to the standard scale leads simply and quickly to thedetermination and reading of the relative offset.

One other object of the invention is the provision, for attaChment to astandard ruler, of various types of offset scales to be read relative tothe standard scale and which may be quickly interchanged or adjusted foruse in a simple and eflicient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent froma study of the drawing forming a part of this disclosure of a preferredand perfected form of my invention which is more fully described in thefollowing specification.

In ,the drawing, in which like reference characters apply to like partsthroughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a ruler having standard scalemarkings along one p0rtion and offset scale markings associated paralleltherewith and the two being joined by suitable reference lines for easein transposing factors from a point on one scale to the co-relativefactor of the other scale,

Figure 2 is a View of a modified form of ruler embodying my invention,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the `device of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a friction device used between the separableelements of the scale of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical problem to which myinvention has particular application.

Referring to Figure l, the numeral l0 designates a ruler of the typethat is customarily used by mechanics. This rule has along one edge arstandard scale I2 which may be divided into inches and graduationsthereof to 1% of an inch. Upon the opposite edge of this rule, at anangle thereto, are the graduations of an offset scale I4 correspondingin number and arrangement to the graduations of the scale l2. It is tobe noted that the offset graduations I4 are eX- panded somewhat withrelation to the scale I2 and that they are slanted and thus readilydistinguishable from the standard scale in which the graduation marksare at right angles to the length of the scale. In this particularinstance the spacing and markings of the offset scale I4 are divided inproportion to the same of the standard scale I2 to indicate the lengthof the hypotenuse of a triangle havingan included angle of forty-fivedegrees to either one of the legs and in which the length of the legadjacent the included angle is known, or can be calculated onlscale I2.Between the major factors (the inch marks) of scale I2 and thecorresponding re1- ative factors of scale I4 are reference tie-lines I6,which aid in a transposition from one factor previously determined to afactor to be determined by the use of my computing scale.

As is common with most rules and scales used for similar work, theprimary or inch marks are strongly identified on the standard scale andare usually indicated by numerals designating progressively a series ofmeasurements, The intermediate graduations are formed in the customarymanner, with the half inch, quarter inch, eighth inch and sixteenthinchmarks, being of various lengths for ease of reading. In a likemanner the graduations of the offset scale vary in length,

such as the ruler with which they are associated,

and it is also to be noted that they are set at an oblique angle withrelation to that edge so that a mechanic using my computing scale willnot be confused as to which side is the standard measurement and whichside is the scale relating to factors to be determined.

The lscale shown in Figure 2 relates to right triangles in which thehypotenuse meets the leg atan angle of forty-live degrees, In which casethe mechanic would be dealing with a forty-ve degree offset. Alternativescales, 5% degree, 111/4 degree, 221/2 degree, 30 degree, 60 degree andother offsets will be of a similar nature, the only variation Ibeing inthe relation of the graduation between the standard and the offsetscale.

rReferring to Figure 2, the scale shown is in every respect similar tothat of Figure 1, an exception being that the offset graduations areprovided on a nember that is removable from the main member andinterchangeable with similar members that may have different graduationsto accommodate varying angles. In this casethe body of ruler I8 isprovided with a longitudinal groove 20 intermediate its edges, and on atleast one side thereof. I have shown opposed grooves 28, 2U.

The graduated scales 22 are formed on one face of a U-shaped member 24which has a resilient presser member 26 that slidably engages in grooves20 when the ruler I8 is tted between the legs of the U-shaped member 24,It is preferable that the detent 2B be so distorted inwardly that itwill press against the bottom of groove 20 and serve to retain the partsI8 and 24 together -against dislodging shocks and rough handling,

` I have shown member 26 as being Vstruck from one of the legs of member24 and having, an ogee shape, so that at least a portion 21 is offsetinteriorly of the leg to which it is attached. Since member 26 isresilient, it serves as a friction device or a brake.

Assuming that we 'are dealing with two runs that lie at right angles toeach other and into which adjacent their juncture we wish to insert anobliquely disposed section; we have a problem which is specificallyshown in Figure 6. The main pipe sections 30 and 32 each has at its endthe oblique couplings 34 and 36 respectively, Between the couplings 34and 36 we are to insert a piece of pipe 38. In effect, pipe 38 is thehypotenuse of a triangle between the axes of couplings 34 and 36 and theprojective axis of pipes Si) and 32, each indicated by the numerals 40and 42 respectively. These axes intersect at A,

The distance AB or AC which is respectively the length of the projectedaxis 40 and 42 from the point at which the axis 44 of pipe 38 intersectswi'thin fittings 34 or 33 can readily be determined by measurement.These points are marked B and C. "The length of pipe 38 cannot so easilybe determined without recourse to a rather involved mathematicalprocedure since it is not actually the length of BC. Since it is Wellknown that every pipe threaded into a tting enters that fitting acertain distance, we have an additional factor to be taken inconsideration in calculating the actual length of pipe 38, namely howmuch shorter is the pipe 38 than the actual distance BC. Since thisfactor is fairly standard with each type of fitting kin its varioussizes, that distance which is here designated as CD and BE and can beaccommodated for in my scale in the calculation of the length of DE byapplying dimensions AB or AC to the graduation I2 relative to thecorresponding graduations of scale I4.

It is well known that an equilateral right triangle having a leg of acertain dimension will have a hypotenuse that is directly proportionateto that leg and that, irrespective of the length of the leg, thehypotenuse in any given triangle will be in accordance with thatproportion. I therefore calculate the graduation of my scale I4 withrespect to that proportion and make allowance for the distances CD andBE so that, should a men chanic measure either the dimension AC or AB ofFigure 6, transpose that measurement to scale I4 from scale I2, and inso doing employ the reference line I6, he will readily and simply readon scale I4 the length to which he must cut pipe 38.

While I have described throughout this specication the use of mycomputing scale with relation to a layout of and the prefabrication ofcertain piping elements, it will bereadily recognized that the inventionis usefulin carpentry and in other of the arts. Therefore I do not wishto be unduly limited by reason of the exemplifying description which Iemploy in teaching the yprinciples of my invention. It is obvious thatthe computing scale which I here disclose will be u seful to architectsand estimators, layout men of all natures, that its use is simple andthat it may be employed by those who are not fully Ytrained inmathematics or highly skilled in their par-V ticular arts.

Although I have shown and described certain special and specificembodiments yof my invention, I am fully aware that there are manymodifications possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restrictedexcept insofar as Vis necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A computer scale comprising strip means including: an elongated basemember having greater width than thickness and a longitudinal groovealong one of the faces thereof, a graduated scale along one edge of thebase member to one sideof thelongitudinal groove, said strip means Yalso'including a'U-shaped member removably mounted on said base member toenclose that edge of the base that lies opposed to said scale, resilientmeans on the U-shaped member engageable in said groove, a graduatedscale on a face of the U- shaped member and having sub-divisions of thesame order but incommensurable with relation to the first scale, and alead line carried by said U-shaped member extending from a. certainmajor point in the scale thereon to a point registrable with acorelative major point in the scale 10 on the base member.

2. A computer scale comprising strip means including: an elongated basemember having great-

